~ Delhi, Day Six, Crafts Museum

Indian people are very colorful. They wear all kinds of colors and patterns mixed. Some look elegant, often have a beautiful walk, probably resulting from carrying loads on their heads, but what they all have in common is very beautiful hair. Especially the ladies, their hair is thick and really blue black. We in the west can only be green with envy.

Beautiful entry gate to the Crafts Museum

This morning I have decided to go to the Crafts Museum. When I got there, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Craftsmen and women had their little booths or huts, the place was full of old hand built buildings, and colorful craft was displayed everywhere for the visitors to purchase.

There were basket weavers, craftsmen making and painting little lacquer boxes, carpet weavers, weavers with wonderful Pashmina, Cashmere, wool, cotton and silk shawls and stoles. I visited with all of them, was served Indian tea, and bought plenty – it’s hard to stop!

There were painters, artists with paper art, umbrella makers, potters, embroiderers, rug weavers, broom makers, lantern makers, doll makers, kite makers, wind hose makers, purse makers, shirt makers…. whatever you can make by hand, is made and displayed there. A shopping paradise and feast for the eyes, not only for Designers.

A very nice hut selling all kinds of craft items

The other side of the same hut

Dolls and items made of very thin wood

Paintings, created by an artist right there

Not only were the various craft booths worth seeing, but also the walls surrounding the whole area were carved, many of the little huts had beautiful paintings outside, or sometimes inside. There is a small theater inside with the most beautifully carved entrance. There is a court with metal figurines and a large altar.

Carved theater entrance

Stunning wall paintings in natural pigments depicting wedding scene

More wall paintings

Carved outside wall of Crafts Museum compound

Crafts woman embroidering cashmere shawls

Large altar, life size

Carved Hindu deity with multiple arms

Wall painting

Then there is the real museum within these walls, the place you go into and find all kinds of indigenous crafts, which are both beautiful and useful and have actually been used for centuries.